Sasuke 25 Official Airdate

This page will update with all the specials, etc. as they are officially announced.
Updated February 25, 2010 - Monster 9 information about duration of the show.
Updated March 8, 2010 - TBS page added with information about the show!
Updated March 15, 2010 - Monster 9 added on their Sasukemania website the date and time of Navi.
March 20, 2010 - Added end time for Sasuke 25.

WHOOT! SPRING SASUKE!

I haven't professed my love for Ube lately since the guy has been taking a long break from Sasuke (which only turned out to be a few weeks.. LOL) but I have plenty to profess after his latest find! He did come back and have great (albeit unexpected) news. The news itself is that we finally have an airdate for Sasuke 25 on TBS. Right on the Sasuke Mania the official announcement of Sasuke 25 airdate was found (albeit hidden).

Sasuke Navi (Sasuke 25 Preview Show)
(via Sasuke Mania Announcement)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
16:00-16:54 JST

Station: TBS (Japan)

3 AM (Eastern Standard Time) (Sunday Morning)
12 AM (Pacific Standard Time) (Sunday Morning/Saturday night midnight)

*****************

Sasuke 25 (via Sasuke Mania Announcement)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
19:00 JST - 22:48 (via TBS Online TV Guide)

Station: TBS (Japan)

6 AM (Eastern Standard Time) (Sunday Morning)
3 AM (Pacific Standard Time) (Sunday Morning)

*** Due to Daylight Saving Time beginning please double check the converted time in your area. United States changes time on March 14, 2010 while European countries change on March 28, 2010.
WORLD CLOCK - TIME ZONE CONVERTER

**************
Update - Monster 9 added information:

On their announcement for February 25 - They mention that Sasuke will have 47 competitors representing the 47 prefectures of Japan. Also all continents will be represented (we all presume they don't mean Antarctica). They also updated their Sasuke Page within the Monster 9 site.

日本全国、世界各国から選ばれた挑戦者がSASUKEに挑む。
Japan, the contestants were chosen from around the world challenge SASUKE.

4人目の完全制覇を目指して挑む熱き戦いが今始まる!
4 Heated Battle starts now complete the challenge for global domination!

2010 年春にSASUKEに何かが起こる!!
Something happens in the spring of 2010 to SASUKE!

2010年3月28日日曜日19：00～
March 2010 - Sunday 28 19:00

※ＴＢＳ系列にて放送
※ TBS broadcast in the series

The strange news is that it's a whole month AFTER the taping date. We know the taping is this Saturday, February 20, 2010 so it's a bit odd that the airdate is that far ahead. I didn't see the announcement but Ube managed to find the page on his side. Another note is that there is no end time or date for Navi (still plenty of time until that is announced). Maybe they are securing the date and time but are waiting for duration after they figure out the results of the competition on Saturday. It's a guess of course.

Updates on possible competitors as they are added from various sources can always be found on my So excited for Sasuke 25 Blog.

Updated March 8, 2010 - TBS finally put their official Sasuke 25 page and I updated the "So excited" blog with the names provided. BIGGER news.. the numbers (saddlecloths are being chosen VIA LOTTERY!!)

Updated March 15, 2010 - Monster 9 FINALLY put their date and time for Sasuke Navi. For those of us who adore the behind the scenes, this is the show we were waiting for. I am a bit disappointed that Yuuji did not get the Nagano treatment and they did not air a Kansenseiha Special like they did with Nagano back in Sasuke 18... I am disappointed they didn't elevate him as a champion and have his own special. Either way.. Navi is still the same duration as it always is - just under an hour. I suspect they will shove something in there about him and cut off UNCLI like they usually do and make it look like he was never part of their group or something. Either way I know more people are interested in seeing the course.. I suspect they will post something at the end with a few huge spoilers in the beginning and end of show.

So excited for.. Sasuke 25

As I get more information I will update this page:
Updated February 19, 2010 - Nagano email + Airdate information
Updated February 21, 2010 - with Blog information found plus names Ube found
Updated February 25, 2010 - with G4 entries.
Updated March 3, 2010 - possible not showing up.
Updated March 8, 2010 - TBS page added.
Updated March 16, 2010 - Ube Photo added.

Video Clip of Chiyo-Chan from Azumanga Daioh

Sasuke 25 is right around the corner! Again just like last year Lost in Ube and I will be scouring the Internet to find what we can. With Sasuke Maniac off the air.. we have to rely on blogs, websites like Sasuke Mania and Monster 9 and TBS page which is finally up!!

TBS AIR-DATE INFORMATION IS HERE
MARCH 28, 2010

PLEASE NOTE: These names, even the confirmed one, can change due to unforeseeable circumstances - so the list is created as a guideline using past information and what has been posted in blogs in Japan. Also some guesses have been made due to the results of previous competitions. It is for fans wanting to know who might be participating.

Btw as I was making this list a message was sent to Nagano via his website sending support from all of the fans here in the USA and those who read this blog from around the world. He posted back a message back to the fans supporting him:

(Bablefish disaster provided by him.. LOL)

Thank you for support from U.S.A.
25 times of SASUKE collecting is in 20 days.
I change the support of all of you into power and do my best.
Thank you for support.
Makoto Nagano

アメリカから応援ありがとう。
２０日に、２５回SASUKE収録があります。
皆さんの応援を力に変えて、頑張ります。
応援ありがとう。
長野誠

(Synopsis of the message was thanks for the support from the United States. 2/20 is the taping day for Sasuke (in 2 days), transferring the support to him to do his best and thanks again for all the support - paraphrased of course ;)


Photo provided by Ube on his blog

Confirmed participants/Expected

• Allstars - Makoto Nagano 長野誠 (confirmed via email (see above message))
• Toshihiro Takeda 竹田敏浩 / Shingo Yamamoto 山本進悟 / Kazuhiko Akiyama 秋山 和彦 (confirmed by TBS page)
  
• Katsumi Yamada 山田勝己 / Bunpei Shiratori 白鳥文平 (we have no idea if these 2 will be in Sasuke 25 yet though very doubtful since they are not confirmed on the TBS page with the other 4 All-Stars)

4/100

• Yuuji Urushihara 漆原裕治 - Shoe salesman (UNCLI #3) - (Sasuke 24 Kanzenseiha) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Taiwan's Lee En Chi リー・エンチ (Finalist from Sasuke 24) (confirmed on his blog) (confirmed by TBS page)

6/100

• Japan Sasuke Trials - Sasuke Trials was held on Sunday, February 14, 2010. To this date there is no known number of survivors from that event.

6/100

• American Sasuke Trials - United States did not have a trials for Sasuke 24 and again for Sasuke 25. Now confirmed - the 3 Tempest Free-running pros that passed Stage 1 in Sasuke 23 that were unable to fulfill the invite for Sasuke 24 have been re-invited for Sasuke 25.
  
• Levi Meeuwenberg リーヴァイ・ミューエンバーグ (Team Tempest's "SkyNative") - (Stage 3 competitor in Sasuke 23) (confirmed via blog entry) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Brian Orosco ブライアン・オロスコ (Team Tempest's "No Sole") - (Stage 2 competitor in Sasuke 23) (confirmed via blog entry) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Richard King リチャード・キング (Team Tempest's "Dickey Boy") - (Stage 2 competitor in Sasuke 23) (confirmed via blog entry)

9/100

• Koji Hashimoto 橋本亘司 (Finalist from Sasuke 24) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Hitoshi Kanno 菅野仁志 - Gymnast - Sasuke 20, 22, 23 and 24. Stage 3 competitor from Sasuke 22 and Finalist in Sasuke 23 (confirmed by TBS page)
• Kenji Takahashi 高橋賢次 (Kongo Express) (Finalist from Sasuke 24) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Yoshiyuki Okuyama 奥山義行 (Finalist from Sasuke 24) (confirmed by TBS page)
• Naoya Tajima 田島直弥 (Sasuke 21-23) (Stage 3 competitor from Sasuke 24) (confirmed by TBS page)

14/100

• Five members of Chojin Pro were there. (confirmed via blog entry)
  Jump rope specialist Micchan バク宙５重跳びの体現者（みっちゃん）
  Kung-fu champion Masaki カンフー世界チャンピオン（まさき）
  Aerial performer (?) ATT 立体空中殺法のパイオニア（ATT）
  Nunchaku Artist Hiroki ヌンチャクアーティスト（宏樹）
  Fire Performer TAKUMI ファイヤーパフォーマー（TAKUMI）

19/100

• Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 - Model - (Confirmed on his blog) (Previous Sasuke's and recent Sportsman #1)
• Dandy Sakano ダンディ坂野 - Comedian (confirmed via blog)

21/100

**************************

Guesses based on result and past history

• Tomohiro Kawaguchi 川口朋広 - Sasuke 24 Stage 2 competitor
• Terukazu Ishikawa 石川輝一 - Sasuke 24 Stage 2 competitor and Sasuke 14 3rd Stage competitor
  
• Jun Sato 佐藤惇 - Sasuke 24 Stage 2 competitor
• Yuuji Washimi 鷲見裕二 - Sasuke 24 Stage 2 competitor
  
• Wakky ワッキー - Comedian and part of the duo Penalty ペナルティー
• Akira Omori (大森晃) - Comedian Monkikki or Monkickey (モンキッキー) (or "Monkey") - Sasuke 1-7 and 3-time Finalist and Sasuke 23 and Sasuke 24
  
• Dynamic Trio of Death!! Hang Glider - Masami Harashima 原島雅美 , Creepy Model Maker Guy - Yasuo Aoki 青木保夫 and Mr. Octopus (Tako Man) - Minoru Kuramochi 倉持稔
  

One would also think that they had some faces from 2010 Sportsman #1 and/or Kunoichi as well but I won't add anything from those lists unless it's stated somewhere for sure.

**************************

Not attending

• Shunsuke Nagasaki 長崎 峻侑 - Trampolinist- Seems he blogged about moving from his dorm during the same day of taping.
• Kazuyuki Toda 戸田和幸 - Soccer player (confirmed to be elsewhere)
• Most of Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル- Seems they had a show in Saitama, Japan the same day as Sasuke 25's taping.
  Rie Komiya 小宮理英 - Kunoichi 8 Co-Champion
  Satomi Kadoi 門井 佐登美 - Kunoichi 8 Co-Champion
  Daisuke Nakata 中田大輔 - Trampolinist
  Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 - Monster Box Specialist
• Junichi Miyashita 宮下 純一 - Olympic Bronze medal Swimmer (cough.. double fail guy) (confirmed to be elsewhere)
• Sato Hiromichi 佐藤弘道 - TV host - Sasuke 22 Stage 2 competitor and Sasuke 24 Stage 2 competitor (confirmed to be elsewhere)
  

Taiwan gets new Sasuke broadcaster - Golden Sun

©Golden Sun TV

As many of you know by now JET TV is no longer showing variety TV and thus dropped the Sasuke license. With Lee En Chi リー・エンチ doing so well in Sasuke 24 it was unclear if Taiwan would ever see the show with his wonderful performance. Good news! A new broadcaster has come on and is planning to show Sasuke 24! Their name is Golden Sun 國興衛視 or others call it State TV.

Taiwan's Lee En Chi リー・エンチ

Starting Sunday, February 14th and going on until Wednesday, February 17th - Golden Sun will air Sasuke 24. The total broadcast will be 7 hours!!

February 14 - 19:00 - 21:00 (local time)
February 15 - 19:00 - 21:00 (local time)
February 16 - 19:00 - 21:00 (local time)
February 17 - 19:00 - 20:00 (local time)

Thanks Golden Sun for showing Sasuke 24 and hope it's a long lasting contract to continue showing Sasuke in Taiwan!

2010 Sportsman No. 1 Monster Box Special - Part 6

2010 Sportsman No. 1 Monster Box Special
栄光のスポーツマン№１決定戦スペシャル

PART SIX

(PART ONE) (PART TWO) (PART THREE) (PART FOUR) (PART FIVE)

For a preview of what Monster Box is please refer to my blog on the 2010 Sportsman No. 1 Navi (a half hour show). For brevity's sake I will not post what I already did there. I also want to make clear that the entire show will not be posted here. I am only concentrating on Monster Box and any specials tied to previous Sportsman #1 events. Thanks everyone for being patient while I do this.. was sick with a stupid cold.. grrr... btw.. I'm buried in over 2 feet of snow.. wtf..

UBE'S BLOG OF THIS SHOW HERE

19 boxes - 2 meters 66 centimeters (approx. 8.72 feet)

After the 18 boxes they went back to another set of things that had nothing to do with Sportsman.. oh well. Ube covered it. Seems like a golf thing with balloons, a tennis thing with Maria Sharapova, another baseball challenge, 2 basketball challenges with Michael Jordan, another baseball thing, and then finally back to Monster Box.

Blast from the past.. I guess Gon is done for the day so we got new people!
Takashi Fukunishi 福西崇史 - Former Japan National Team soccer player did 19 boxes!

Shoei 照英, - Sasuke fans will remember him from earlier broadcast as well as Geinojin Sportsman battles with Kane Kosugi also from the earlier 2000's.

Back to the present.. hey! I've seen him before! It's Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 - He's a model

Wow he cleared with no problems!

AND he knows how to celebrate! LOL

And the shot from the commercial that played over and over during Sasuke 24 :)

Daisuke Miyazaki 宮﨑大輔 - Handball dude

He seems to be laboring again..

Tomoki Kitagawa 北川智規 - Rugby player

Doh.. butt plant..

Tomoki Kitagawa 北川智規 completes the day with 18 boxes!

Akihito Yamada 山田章仁 - he plays Rugby

Also a buttplant..

Hmm.. seems they didn't even bother showing the 2nd tries.. (er.. make the the first tries)

And just like that we are at 20 boxes - 2 meters 76 centimeters (approx. 9 feet)

We are down to 4 people! 2 from Muscle Musical, a handball dude and a model!

Speaking of model - Ryo Shirai 白井 涼

He's having one hardcore day! He cleared friggin' 20 boxes!!

Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 totally kicking a$$ and taking names!

and the 2 Celebrities that are cheering are having kittens! Score another one for the Geinojin guy that's left!

Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 is one of the rare ones to actually pass 20 boxes!

Daisuke Miyazaki 宮﨑大輔 looks nervous

OUCH.. faceplant..

.. he seems totally lost..

Iketani barely showing any emotion whatsoever. He takes his cue to get up and get ready.

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Geeeez that's some hangtime

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 is totally stoked!

Iketani seems .. stressed...

LMFAO.. he's celebrating midair..

Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Old dude (cough.. younger than me) is telling the punk kid that it's his turf!

Oh.. bring it old man!

Meanwhile the lone person who failed 20 so far is Miyazaki. He's sizing up the jump.

20 boxes part deux

Hmm.. he skipped jumping 12 and 13 and did a few straight before failing his first shot at 20.

LMFAO this commercial with the totally annoyed cat!

BAP.. not happening today..

Daisuke Miyazaki 宮﨑大輔 just didn't have the legs for it today. He did fantastic though considering this is not his strongest event in Sportsman! Hope he heals up and comes back to Sasuke soon.

21 boxes - 2 meters 86 centimeters (approx. 9.38 feet)

And if you didn't believe me.. there it is :p

Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 getting ready for 21 boxes!

Aww.. butt plant..

Gaaah he's so frustrated!

Iketani is not impressed..

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

MAJOR air again!

He's pumped!

.. intently watching...

LOL he's celebrating mid air again!

LOL Fist pumps!!

Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Old man still has it! BRING IT ON!

.. ahahahhahahaha he gets it.. he ain't stupid :p

Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 going for his 2nd try at 21!

Awww.. the pixie dust has dissipated on this Cinderella Story

Ryo Shirai 白井 涼 did fantastic today! 20 boxes is awesome for a Geinojin! Btw.. he wrote about this day and shows his certificate on his blog :p

Now for the battle between the paid entertainers.. ehem.. New or old guy from Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル?

Finally.. they have to show him.. LOL
Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ was a force to be reckoned with back in the early 2000's when he dominated the Geinojin competitions and even WON a Pro Sportsman event! No other non-athlete (he is an actor after all) has ever won the pro event! He is also the sole non-athlete to hold the record at 22 boxes! Here it is.. he did it in 2000.

Kane Kosugi ケイン・コスギ - 22 boxes is his record

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 watching the assembly of the 22 boxes.

Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 is actually looking pretty nervous. I have to tell ya I'm surprised anyone is even HERE competing with him so this is something I wasn't expecting.

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

.. he looks.. stressed...

Okie dokie.. 22 boxes.. 2 meters 96 centimeters (approx. 9.7 feet)

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Iketani isn't even watching him... he's staring at the monster box!!

Doh.. Oyama lands ON the box...

And falls off in disbelief..

So.. how does Naoki respond? by drying off his pits with a towel...

Replay on the fail

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 fails the first attempt at 22 boxes

Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Oh oh.. that's low..

And.. wtf.. he's on the side...

Oh that's not a happy camper..

He's surprised as well.. he might be fired after all.. LOL

Both failed.. now comes the stupid questions I'm sure..

22 boxes part deux.. I mean seriously Kane holds this record :p (just kidding.. just shows how awesome that jump was... ehem..)

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 and the TBS chart! He skipped 5 jumps today!

His second try at 22 is HUGE!!!!!!!

HAVING KITTENS! He's CLEARED!!!

Oyama is beside himself with pride! He doesn't care if he gets fired after all! LOL

Plenty of real estate underneath him!

.. Naoki watching...

.. and while everyone is clapping and ooooooing and aaaaaaahing.. he wipes his pits..

.. both of them...

Mid air celebration again!

Naoki talking to the man in the box.. dude.. I pwned you 3 times before.. give me a break...

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 doesn't care.. he's cleared 22 boxes! He has a shot at tying the record now.

Dramatic TBS chart.. will Naoki match Oyama?

Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 and his chart today.. he also skipped 5 jumps

Dear God.. Please let him get this.. I need my job....

And he's up...

and... hmm.. off to the side.. you start to hear clapping.. then...

You see his face...

And the bitter disappointment.. he knows he missed it.. even if I didn't see it..

He's teetering to the side.. maybe he hit? I didn't see it..

He knows he missed it though...

ooooooooh.. his inner left thigh hit the box....

Wow.. I never thought Naoki would lose this!!! His day ends at 21 boxes.

And there it is.. 23 boxes.. the World Record Iketani holds along with 3 others.

Oyama again watching the assembly

Now for the guys who hold this World Record - back in 1997 the first man to hold it was Yeo Hong-Chul of South Korea (KOR) - Silver Medalist in the Atlanta Olympics on Vault

3 times (1999, 2002 and again in 2006) you have Naoki Iketani 池谷直樹 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル and former National Gymnast

In 2005 you had American Olympian Morgan Hamm - He was part of the United States Silver Medal Team in Athens, Greece

In the same event you had the last of this very elite group - Hisashi Mizutori 水鳥 寿思 - He was part of the Japanese team that won the gold medal in the team competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Here we go.. World Record height - 23 boxes - 3 meters and 6 centimeters! (approx. 10.03 feet)

Totally dramatic (Ube did warn me).. they turn off the lights and start some dramatic music. Highlighting first the Monster Box holding 23 boxes

Then they slowly light up the runway with a phrase...

"WORLD RECORD 23" (LOL in English.. guess it looks more dramatic with all of those letters :p )

Then Oyama is highlighted as the victim.. er.. competitor

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル ready for ONE shot (since he won the competition already being the last guy standing at 22 boxes) at tying the World Record

Here he goes...

Hmmm.. he's .. off to the side..

Complete silence from the crowd.. except for the announcer yelling..

Surprise and confusion from the crowd..

Naoki is not entirely sure either but given that the credits are rolling I'm guessing he missed...

He's waiting for confirmation

Too far off the side it seems (not enough of the body over the actual obstacle)

Aww he's disappointed

Crowd still erupts over an awesome effort today and of course to the winner

Naoki I guess relieved his record still stands applauds the winner

Hirokazu Oyama 大山大和 - Muscle Musical マッスルミュージカル

Winner of the 2010 Sportsman #1 Monster Box Special

Never would I thought that anyone other than Naoki would win this.. then again. I wasn't exactly surprised that another kid from Muscle Musical won it considering that they train on this obstacle every.. single.. day.. STILL it was a fabulous feat and great little competition. I'm hoping TBS brings back the original full competition next year and I hope they resurrect the Geinojin competition. The addition of the All-Stars was a great treat for us and a great introduction to those who have never otherwise watched Sportsman #1. As a fan of Sportsman I do hope they return to the previous format since I really enjoy the full competition. Let's hope they bring back both the Celebrity one and the Pro one. I sure would love to see them!

Thanks again to Jason for providing the feed so I can see it! not a lot of people were able to wake up early to watch it on a work/school day so not a lot of people got to see it. Thanks to Ube for watching it with me and helping me a million times with the names and faces that I can never seem to match up unless I'm blogging.. LOL He's very gifted at what he does and I can never say enough about how much he does for us. Thanks to those who keep writing comments and encouraging me to continue writing these blogs. Just when I think no one reads it then it seems I get new readers. It's a thrill to share something I like with new people. Thanks for the support! Hope to see you soon as we prepare for the next main event.. Sasuke 25!! I'm excited and jealous of those who get to watch it live. Good luck on the entries and I hope that Monster 9 rethinks their foreign policy and allow foreigners to again apply directly to the show. Especially non-Americans who have no other option available to them.